Currant is not a capricious perennial plant that, with proper care, gives a stable yield of fragrant and healthy berries. For the safe development of currants, four rules must be followed: light, water, soil and good top dressing in spring. It is important to understand how to properly fertilize the earth in order to help the plant grow stronger after the winter and prepare for the new season.
Why is spring currant needed?
If you know when and how to feed a berry culture, then the chances of getting a good harvest increase. After wintering, the bush is exhausted, so in the spring it needs help to recuperate.
It is a mistake to think that the plant rests in winter, because it wastes nutrients to maintain health and vitality. It is important to remember that the soil is depleted without fertilizers, and currants gradually draw out all the useful minerals and organics, like other plantings in the garden.
For young plants that grow for only 1 or 2 years, it is sufficient to apply exclusively nitrogen fertilizers to stimulate the growth of leaves and crown. Of course, this is relevant if, at the time of planting, humus, sod and minerals were immediately introduced in sufficient quantities.
For older shrubs, organic fertilizers must be applied. The volume directly depends on the fertility of the land on the site:
- The largest amount of fertilizers is applied to poorly developed land - about 6 kg per 1 sq. m.
- Well-developed soil does not need an overabundance of nutrients, it is enough to make about 4 kg per 1 sq. m, no more. Excessive fertilizer damage the root system.
Feeding stages
Top dressing of a currant bush is carried out in stages, according to the established rules. To obtain an excellent harvest, it is necessary to follow the established scheme of spring soil fertilization. The very first work begins as soon as the snow melts, the soil is saturated with water, and the first swollen buds appear on the currant.
First feeding
It is important to be in time before the first leaves bloom on the bush. You need to start acting at the moment when the first buds appear on the branches. If the currants were fertilized in the fall, then in the spring you can limit yourself to nitrogen means:
- calcium nitrate;
- urea;
- ammonium nitrate.
Alternatively, they add a lot of urea, about 40 g. The calculation is indicated for 1 bush under the age of 4 years. Before watering, the preparations are carefully diluted in water, the substances should not be in a granular state, because they can burn the roots.
For older plants, the amount of urea is reduced to 20-30 g and halved, that is, fed in spring and autumn.
If necessary, liquid organic fertilizers are applied at the same stage. Experienced gardeners advise taking proven recipes:
- bird droppings and herbal infusions, diluted with water in proportions of approximately 1:10;
- manure - 1: 4 per 10 liters of water;
- minerals: phosphorus 20 g, potassium 10 g and nitrogen 10 g per 10 liters of water.
Second feeding
Carried out 2 weeks after the first spring treatment of the bush. You need to wait until the inflorescences blossom and berries begin to form on the branches.
The mixture is prepared from non-aggressive substances, for example, one of the most common methods is to stir 1 tbsp. l potassium sulfate and humus. It is enough to pour the mixture under the bush, it does not need to be insisted or dissolved in water.
Only rotted manure is used!
Third feeding
You must wait 14 days after the second feeding. After the specified time, irrigate the bush with a solution of urea. For convenience, it is better to take a spray bottle, it will turn out to cover the crown evenly.
For spraying, urea is dissolved at the rate of 10 g of the drug per 10 liters of water. If we talk about black currants, then the feeding procedures are over for it.
The fourth feeding is done after picking the berries.
Feeding rules
While the soil is moist, and the first buds are gradually opening on the branches, it is time to care for the currant, you should start with the introduction of nitrogen. It is found in manure, urea, ammonium nitrate.
Some gardeners sprinkle nitrogen on top, but it is better to dissolve it in water and use it for watering. Repeat feeding every 2 weeks, alternating the substances used. For example, first pour the droppings, then with urea, and finally take the herbal infusion.
If there is sandy or depleted soil on the site, then fertilizers must be invested in it much more and more often. It is advisable to mulch the upper fertile layer with sawdust or hay. This helps to retain moisture, keep the planting area dry and suppress weeds.
Fertilizing is carried out taking into account certain nuances:
- Distribute the substances evenly.
- The localization of the use of drugs should exceed the diameter of the crown so that the entire root system is nourished.
- After the snow melts, water the ground with warm water.
- Carry out an external inspection of the plant, carefully cutting off dried and dead branches.
- If during planting work in the hole to lay enough useful substances, then 2 years currants will be excellent fruiting without additional costs.
- Minerals are less active chemical elements. Therefore, dig in the grooves about 30 cm, then they can reach the roots. They also make small holes for laying out salts around the bush.
- For better penetration of nitrogen preparations, they are mixed with earth.
- It is enough to put organic matter around the plantings on the ground.
- The combination of fertilizing and spraying the crown helps to increase the effectiveness of the procedures.
- For spraying, select only water-soluble products and dilute a small amount thoroughly. This ensures that the leaves are protected from burns.
- Spray the leaves with mineral solutions only at a time when the sun definitely does not hit them. The liquid will remain on the surface much longer without causing a burn.
- Spray the bush with minerals during flowering and even berry formation.
We also recommend reading an article on how to properly care for currants in the spring.
How to feed currants in spring
In specialized stores, they offer to buy various means to increase the yield, the main thing is to be able to navigate in all the variety of goods.
Nitrogen fertilizers
This type of fertilizer provides currants a storehouse of useful substances for nutrition, stimulating the growth of the crown, activating the emergence of new leaf blades. They should not be carried away, an overabundance of nitrogen will give an advantage to greens, and not to fruits, stopping the formation of inflorescences and berries.
In the video presented, you can see the spring top dressing of currants with nitrogen fertilizers:
To enrich the site with nitrogen, spring time is best.
Lack of nitrogen in the soil reduces yields, so fertilization is periodically required. To do this, use:
- compost with peat;
- manure;
- bird droppings;
- ammonium nitrate;
- anhydrous ammonia;
- ammonium sulfate;
- urea;
- calcium cyanamide;
- urea.
Lack of nitrogen usually produces a sharp yellowing of leaves and inhibition of shrub growth.
Complex fertilizers
Apply ready-made mixes for crops marked "spring" or "spring". All fertilizing should be done only on damp ground, combined with watering or applied after rain. Also used as stimulants and for the treatment of seedlings during planting.
Complex mineral preparations are obtained by chemical reaction methods or by mixing elements. They have a significant concentration of active substances, so their consumption should be small so as not to damage the plants.
They are mixtures of salts:
- nitrogen-phosphorus;
- potassium-nitrogen;
- nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compositions.
You can buy ready-made mixtures or do it yourself, purchasing all the necessary ingredients in specialized stores. Popular drugs:
- Nitrofoska;
- Ammofoska;
- Potassium nitrate;
- Ammophosphate.
There are also multicomponent nutritional formulations. They include basic elements and micronutrient fertilizers, therefore, they are especially needed in areas with poor soil, where they protect against diseases and increase yields.
The use of substances greatly depends on the type of soil, but in no case do you need to choose a drug that contains chlorine. It is better to opt for:
- Zinc - to reduce alkalinity.
- Copper - for swampy areas, peatlands.
- Manganese - for black soil, which gives an alkaline reaction.
- Boron - for soils with a high sand content.
- Molybdenum - to reduce the acidity of the soil.
Phosphate fertilizer
Experienced gardeners recommend using phosphorus-potassium fertilizers for black currants. In this case, you will need to dilute 10 g of potassium sulfate and 40 g of superphosphate per shrub.
In his video, the gardener talks about the introduction of phosphorus fertilizers for feeding currants:
Be sure to make a groove and pour in the prepared solution. So the substances will go to the roots much faster. The size of the fruit depends on phosphorus, therefore, without it, the currants will degenerate, and will bring small berries.
Don't forget about potassium, its content directly affects the sweet taste. Therefore, many summer residents use these two substances together.
The most famous drugs:
- Superphosphate;
- Precipitate;
- Phosphorite and bone meal;
- Tomoslag and other substances.
Of these, superphosphate is especially distinguished. This group protects against pests, diseases and helps to increase yields. Superphosphate top dressing is done according to the rules:
- on young landings apply no more than 60 g;
- the older the bush, the higher the concentration;
- it is recommended to combine with nitrogen and phosphorus.
Phosphate fertilizers are a vital source of plant nutrition. Energy exchange depends on it. With a sufficient phosphorus content, currants grow and develop normally.
This element has an interesting feature, with an overabundance of it, there are no negative consequences, since the plantings absorb only the prescribed rate, not a gram more.
Organic feed
They are used to replace minerals, alone or in conjunction with them. An integrated approach gives excellent results, so very often gardeners mix and use all types of top dressing.
From organics, the most widely used substances can be distinguished: manure and compost. For vigorous growth and harvesting a significant harvest, you will need about 6 kg of fertilizer per 1 currant bush. They are buried near the trunk, not far from the root system.
How to use:
- Divorced manure. Pour fresh manure with water in the proportions 1: 1, insist for at least 3 days. Then dilute with water 1:10. Water an adult bush with 1 bucket, and a young one with half.
- Bird droppings. Dilute 1:12 with water. The consumption is the same as for manure.
- Compost. They are used all year round, since they do not contain nitrogen. They mulch the soil around the plantings with a layer of 1 cm.
Folk remedies for fertilizer
Such methods are not a panacea, and they cannot single-handedly save the crop. These are not complete preparations, but additives that can be added for a small feeding.
Very often peelings from potatoes, grain waste, banana peels are used. Purchased starch will not give the desired effect, it is the potato that is needed, its peel contains many trace elements and vitamins, although assimilation is poor.
Recipe with potato peels:
- Make an infusion - fill with water at a rate of 1: 1.
- Place in a dark place to infuse. The process will take 1.5 months.
- Dilute the infusion with water 1:10.
- Water strictly while the berries are forming, not later.
- Consumption - 1 bucket per 1 bush.
Watch a video about feeding currants with potato peelings in the spring:
Banana peel:
- Take 5 leftover bananas.
- Fill with a bucket of water.
- Put in heat for three days.
- Pour over the currant so it gets a serving of potassium.
More information on fertilizing young plants with banana peel is written here.
Bread crusts (they are especially fond of colored currants):
- Collect the leftover bread. Fill the crusts with water 1: 1.
- Leave in a warm place for 10 days.
- Strain, dilute with water 1:10.
- Water 1 bucket per bush.
Fresh herbs:
- Take dandelion, chamomile, and wheatgrass. Put in a large barrel about half of the tank.
- Fill with water, close tightly with a lid.
- Place in the sun.
- To enhance fermentation, add jam or bread crusts (crackers).
- Stir occasionally while shaking the precipitate.
- Keep for 12 days until the fermentation process is over.
- Dilute fermented infusion 1:10 in water.
- Water the bush at the root.
You can not make an infusion, but dig in pieces of banana, potato or bread at the roots, the fermentation process will start on its own. Also do not forget about manure. They mulch the soil around them - the consumption is 10 kg per bush.
In springtime, you can sow the gaps between plantings with peas or vetch. Before flowering, these plants need to be mowed and laid around currants to dig up with the ground.
Useful Tips
Currants have a certain life cycle with strictly defined deadlines, for which it is important to correctly adapt. Many novice gardeners are convinced of the uselessness of foliar fertilizers. At the same time, it is forgotten that winter weakens the roots, depletes the supply of nutrients, because in cold weather the plant spends energy on maintaining viability.
It is important to properly spray the leaf plates. It is not necessary to use fixers for this, they have a side effect - deformation of the leaf structure, violation of its integrity, which ultimately lead to irreversible damage to the crown. Failure to comply with the dose and proportions of the dilution of the product leads to burns and even the death of the bush.
Basal preparations are applied very carefully, they should not touch the trunk, foliage, otherwise a burn occurs, and colonies of pathogenic bacteria settle on its wound surface. It is strictly forbidden to apply liquid fertilizers to dry soil; they burn the root system and lead to the death of the bush. Work must be carried out strictly on moist soil. If necessary, the landing area is very well moistened.
Pay attention to climate and temperature conditions. No need to work in the heat and sun. Perform all procedures at night, for example, in the early morning or late evening, at dusk, and on a cloudy day when the sun is safely hidden behind clouds. The first feeding is carried out no less than at +10 degrees Celsius.
Never forget about the safety rules when working with chemicals! You should always carefully read the instructions on the packaging, keep the drugs as far away as possible from children and pets.
From the moment we carried out all the procedures and applied fertilizers, it is imperative to monitor the state of the plantings. Timely carry out treatment, do not start the disease and do not allow parasites to multiply. Properly carried out top dressing in spring currant bush - the key to an excellent harvest.